NCPA Releases Statement on Study of Rural Pharmacies and Medicare Part B
The National Community Pharmacy Association CEO Doug Hoey has issued a statement following the release of the RUPRI Center for Rural Policy Analysis’ study “Issues Confronting Rural Pharmacies after a Decade of Medicare Part D:”
“The RUPRI Center’s study offers a much-needed exploration of the challenges facing small pharmacies that participate in Medicare Part D. The paper’s conclusions further validate our concerns about DIR fees, maximum allowable cost (MAC) pricing transparency, and exclusion from ‘preferred pharmacy’ networks.”
Some of the study’s findings include:
- Rural pharmacists are “part of the health care system, providing essential services.”
- Millions of rural residents are at risk of losing the only pharmacy in their community.
- Public policies should focus on policies to “ameliorate fiscal stress for rural independent pharmacies.”